8.39 – Fight them until (there) is no persecution and the religion – all of it – (belongs) to God
This verse commands the reader or listener to fight, using the Arabic verb qātala . It follows the same wording as 2.193 except for the additional word here translated “all.” The enemy seems to be “those who disbelieve” mentioned in the preceding verses (36–38). Similarly, the reason for fighting seems to be that those who “disbelieve” keep people from the way of Allah (v. 36). Fighting is to continue until there is no more “persecution” ( fitna ) and until all of the religion is Allah’s.